Tech will host Christian Brothers on Valentine's Day; at UAM on Saturday

By Sean Ingram

sportseditor@couriernews.com

Any guys who still need to figure out a Valentine's Day gift for their sweethearts? Now you've got one: A night of NCAA Division II basketball at Arkansas Tech University.

Wednesday's snow, combined with below-freezing temperatures anticipated today and Friday, postponed the Gulf South Conference basketball games between Tech and Christian Brothers of Memphis, Tenn. Tip-off for the nationally fifth-ranked Golden Suns-Lady Bucaneers contest has moved from 5:30 p.m. today to 5:30 p.m. Monday inside Tucker Coliseum. The 14th-ranked Wonder Boys and Bucs will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

"We felt it was in the best interests of everyone involved to reschedule Thursday's game to Monday," Arkansas Tech athletic director Steve Mullins said Wednesday.

Before then, however, Arkansas Tech's basketball teams are stills scheduled to travel to the University of Arkansas-Monticello for a doubleheader at Steelman Fieldhouse. The Suns (18-2 overall, 7-1 GSC) open Saturday's doubleheader at 2 p.m. against the Cotton Blossoms (6-14, 2-6), while the Wonder Boys (17-3, 8-0) will meet the Boll Weevils (12-8, 4-4) at 4 p.m. Tech swept UAM on Jan. 15 in Russellville, with the Golden Suns winning 89-46 and the Wonder Boys earning a hard-fought 85-82 win.

Arkansas Tech will play four games next week after the trip to Monticello on Saturday. After hosting CBU on Monday, the Wonder Boys and Suns will travel to Magnolia on Feb. 17 for a league doubleheader at Southern Arkansas University, then return to Tucker Coliseum on Feb. 19 for a showdown with Delta State.

Arkansas Tech will now have its Project: Feed Arkansas Night on Monday. Fans attending Monday's doubleheader will be admitted for $5 for adults and $3 for non-Tech students and senior citizens with the donation of a canned or non-perishable food item. In addition, Tech's basketball teams will wear orange shooting shirts that can be bid on in a silent auction that will be held during the games. The bidding for the jerseys will begin at $20 and all the proceeds will go to the Arkansas Rice Depot to combat hunger relief.